Marking machine



Feb. 1, 1955 c. M. BAGSHAW ETAL MARKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 15, 1951.

\A [nvenims v Charles M Bags/ma] Leonard Puaaock B heir A15 0m C. M.BAGSHAW ET AL .Feb. 1, 1955 MARKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ys/zawLeonard Paddock IHUQHZOPJ Charles M Ba Filed Nov. 15, 1951 United StatesPatent MARKING MACHINE Charles Martin Bagshaw and Leonard Ruddock,Leicester,

England, assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N.1., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 15, 1951, SerialNo. 256,420

Claims priority, application Great Britain February 13, 1951 6 Claims.(Cl. 101301) This invention relates to marking machines, and moreparticularly to hand operated machines of the type commonly used in shoefactories and known as stitch marking machines, although it will beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application tomachines of this type. Such machines are commonly employed in markingleather articles such as shoe uppers with a pattern or with guide linesfor subsequent ornamental stitching and for other purposes.

Machines of the type referred to above are usually provided with acarrier for a marking die, the carrier being supported by a parallelmotion linkage for movements from a position in which the die is incontact with an inking device, to a position in which the die is incontact with a work piece on a support adjacent to the inking device,and back to an intermediate position. The die carrier is usuallyequipped with a handle by which it is moved in the manner aforesaid bythe operator. During each cycle of operation of the machine it isnecessary for the operator to move the marking die into position toreceive a supply of ink and into position to mark the work and then backto the intermediate position while a marked work piece is removed fromthe machine and a new work piece is placed on the support. It is anobject of the present invention to provide an improved, manuallyoperated marking machine in which the effort expended by the operator isreduced while at the same time providing for an increase in the speed atwhich the machine may be operated, thus providing for an increased dailyoutput of the machine.

To this end and in accordance with a feature of the invention, one ormore weights are suitably connected to the parallel motion linkage andoperate to move the marking die from marking position into inkingposition and then back to a position intermediate the work support andthe inking means, there being means for automatically arresting themotion of the marking die when in this intermediate position.Accordingly it is necessary for the operator only to move the markingdie during a marking operation from the intermediate position forwardlyinto contact with a work piece on the work support, the remainingmovements of the marking die being effected by the action of the weightor weights.

The above and other features of the invention, including various detailsof construction and novel combinations of parts will now be described byreference to the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one foam of machine inwhich the invention is embodied; an

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, with certain parts omitted andothers broken away, of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

The machine is illustrated as including a work support 10 which may becarried by a table 12, and a support 14 for an inking ribbon by whichink is applied to a die 16 mounted on the underside of a carrier 18.This carrier is supported by pairs of parallel links 20, 22 providing aparallel motion linkage whereby the carrier may be moved, as illustratedin the broken lines in Fig. 1, from a position in which the die 16 is ina position to receive a coating of ink into a position in contact with awork piece on the support 10. A handle 2,700,932 Patented Feb. 1, 195524 is connected to the carrier 18 to facilitate movement of the carrierby the operator.

The links 20, 22 are secured to shafts 26, 28 (Fig. 2) journaledrespectively in the lower portion of the support 14 and in the worksupport 10. Ink is applied to the die 16 by a coated ribbon 30 whichpasses around a pair of spindles one of which is illustrated at 32 (Fig.2) and the other of which lies directly beneath it. The lower spindlehas fixed to one end thereof a ratchet wheel 34. An arm 36 is journaledon the lower spindle carrying the ratchet 34 and this arm carries aspring pressed pawl 38 arranged upon movement of the arm 36 in acounterclockwise direction to move the ratchet 34 and the spindlecarried thereby in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1,thus moving the inking ribbon 30. The arm 36 is oscillated by movementof the die carrier 18 so that during each marking cycle the spindlecarrying the ratchet 34 is indexed a predetermined amount. For thispurpose a pin 40 extends eccentrically from one end of the shaft 26 andis connected by a link 42 to the arm 36. It will be understood that theshaft 26 oscillates during to-and-fro movements of the carrier 18 thusimparting a similar movement to the arm 36. Retrograde movement of theratchet wheel 34 is prevented by a spring finger 44 one end of which issecured to a bracket 46 carrying the spindle for the inking ribbon, theother end of the finger engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Theinking ribbon 30 is guided by pins 48, 50 and 52 across the support 14.

For moving the die carrier 18 from marking position to inking positionupon release of the handle 24 by the operator, a weight 54 is provided.This weight is adjustably carried by a rod 56 secured to and dependingfrom a block 58 which is in turn secured to the shaft 26 by a set screw60. The work table 12 is provided with an aperture 62 to accommodateswinging of the arm 56 as the die carrier 18 is moved. With the die 16in marking position the weight 54 is swung in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1, into the broken line position shown at the left. Theenergy thus stored in the weight will move the die carrier 18 intoinking position upon release of the handle by the operator.

To assist the action of the weight 54 and also to maintain the diecarrier in the desired position inter mediate the work support and theinking ribbon support, a second weight 64 is provided. This weight issecured to a rod 66 (Fig. 2) which is carried by a block 68 (Fig. 1)secured to the shaft 26 by a set screw 70. With the rod 56 carrying theweight 54 in a vertical position, as viewed in Fig. l, the weight 64maintains the die carrier 18 in the position illustrated. This positionis readily adjusted by varying the position of the weight 64 along itssupporting rod 66, as well as by adjusting the angular position of thesupporting block 68 about the shaft 26.

It is desirable that the die carrier come to rest after swingingforwardly from the broken line position at the left in Fig. 1 to thefull line position rather than being permitted to swing to and fro.Accordingly a one-way brake mechanism is provided which acts on one ofthe supporting links 20 during forward movement of the die carrier fromits rearward position adjacent the support 14, but does not interferewith rearward movement of the die carrier from its forward positionadjacent to the support 10. This brake mechanism is illustrated in Fig.2 and comprises an arm 72 pivoted at 74 to the base 14. The arm 72 isurged in a clockwise direction by a light spring 76 into engagement withan adjustable stop screw 78 which may be locked in adjusted position bya set screw 80. The arm 72 carries a block 82 of rubber or othersuitable material, the outer face of which is angularly disposed withrespect to the path of movement of the adjacent link 20. Upon movementof the link 20 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, during which time thedie carrier is moving rearwardly toward the support 14, the link 20strikes the block 82 causing the arm 72 to move in a counterclockwisedirection against the action of the spring 76 whereupon the link 20passes beyond and out of engagement with the block 82. However, uponforward movement of the die carrier on movement of the link 20 to theright from its extreme left-hand position, the link engages the left endof the block 82 exerting a force tending to pivot the arm 72 in aclockwise direction. Such pivotal movement of the arm is prevented,however, by its engagement with the stop screw 78 so that the link 20exerts a wedging action on the block 82 causing the die carrier to cometo rest. The arrangement is such that after the die carrier has come torest it can then move forwardly onto the support without interference bythe brake mechanism, just described, because the eifectiveness of thebrake mechanism depends upon the impact of the link 20 with the left endof the block 82.

In the operation of the machine the operator grasps the handle 24,having first placed a work piece on the support 10, moving the diecarrier and die forwardly or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, toimpress a mark upon the work piece. During this movement the weight 54moves upwardly toward the left and the weight 64 will move upwardlyuntil it is substantially above the shaft 26. By providing two weightsdisposed as illustrated less effort by the operator is required than ifall the weight were disposed at the lower end of the rod 56. At thebeginning of the swinging of the die carrier forwardly the momentexerted by the weight 54 is at a minimum and that exerted by the weight64 is nearly at its maximum, while at the end of the swing theseconditions are reversed. Thus the force required of the operatorthroughout the swinging movement of the die carrier remains more nearlyconstant than if all the weight required to store up the necessarygravitational energy were concentrated at 54.

After impressing the mark on the work piece the operator releases thehandle 24 whereupon the die carrier is swung by the weights rearwardlywith sufficient momentum to carry the die into engagement with theinking ribbon 30 after which the die again moves forwardly until themovement is arrested by the action of the brake mechanism 72, 82. Thusit is necessary for the operator only to move the die carrier forwardlyfrom the full line position of Fig. 1 into marking position, theremaining portion of the movement of the die carrier being effected bythe action of the weights and controlled by the brake mechanism. Theeffort required to operate the machine is therefore minimized therebypermitting a higher production from the machine.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A marking machine comprising a work support, inking means adjacent tosaid support, a marking die, a carrier supporting said die, meansmounting said carrier for movement from a position in which the die isin contact with the inking means into a position in which the die is incontact with a work piece on the support, means constantly acting on thecarrier when in either one of said positions for moving it toward theother one of said positions, and means operative only in response torapid movement of the carrier from the first-named position toward thesecond-named position for arresting movement of the carrier in anintermediate position.

2. A marking machine comprising a work support, inking means adjacent tosaid support, a marking die, a carrier supporting said die, meansmounting said carrier for movement from a position in which the die isin contact with the inking means into a position in which the die is incontact with a work piece on the support, means constantly acting on thecarrier when in either one of said positions for moving it toward theother one of said positions, and a one-way brake device acting on saidcarrier during its movement from the first-named position toward thesecond-named position for arresting movement of the carrier in anintermediate position.

3. A marking machine comprising a work support, inking means adjacent tosaid support, a marking die, a carrier supporting said die, a parallelmotion linkage supporting said carrier for movement from a position inwhich the die is in contact with the inking means into a position inwhich the die is in contact with a work piece on the support, a weightconnected to and depending from said parallel motion linkage, saidweight being arranged to move the carrier from either of said positionstoward the other, and means operative only in response to rapid movementof the carrier from the first-named position toward the second-namedposition for arresting movement of the carrier in an intermediateposition.

4. A marking machine comprising a work support, inking means adjacent tosaid support, a marking die, a carrier supporting said die, a parallelmotion linkage supporting said carrier for movement from a position inwhich the die is in contact with the inking means into a position inwhich the die is in contact with a Work piece on the support, a weightconnected to and depending from said parallel linkage, said Weight beingarranged to move the carrier from either of said positions toward theother, and a one-way brake device acting on said parallel motion linkageduring movement of the carrier from the first-named position toward thesecond-named position for arresting movement of the carrier in anintermediate position.

5. A marking machine comprising a work support, inking means adjacent tosaid support, a marking die, a carrier supporting said die, a parallelmotion linkage supporting said carrier for movement from a position inwhich the die is in contact with the inking means into a position inwhich the die is in contact with a work piece on the support, a weightconnected to and depending from said parallel motion linkage, saidweight being arranged to move the carrier from either of said positionstoward the other, a brake acting on said parallel motion linkage duringmovement of the carrier, said brake comprising a block of frictionmaterial positioned for engagement by a link of said parallel motionlinkage, and means mounting said block for movement away from said linkduring passage of the link therethrough when the carrier is movingtoward the firstnamed position and opposing said movement duringmovement of the carrier toward the second-named position whereby thecarrier upon moving from the firstnamed position toward the second-namedposition is stopped in an intermediate position.

6. A marking machine comprising a work support, inking means adjacent tosaid support, a marking die, a carrier supporting said die, a parallelmotion linkage supporting said carrier for movement from a position inwhich the die is in contact with the inking means into a position inwhich the die is in contact with a work piece on the support, a weightconnected to and depending from said parallel motion linkage, saidweight being arranged to move the carrier from either of said positionstoward the other, a brake acting on said parallel motion linkage duringmovement of the carrier, said brake comprising a block of frictionmaterial positioned in the path of movement of one of the links of saidparallel motion linkage, said block being arranged to yield in responseto engagement of said link therewith when the carrier is moving from thesecond-named position toward the first-named position but to act as astop for the link in the reverse movement of the link when the carrierreaches an intermediate position between its first and second-namedpositions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.17,715 Woodworth June 24, 1930 935,509 Hubert Sept. 28, 1909 1,123,226Berry Jan. 5, 1915 1,335,491 Fussell Mar. 20, 1920 1,969,505 FreemanAug. 7, 1934 2,329,493 Tilson Sept. 14, 1943

